Chapter 322 Planting Sweet Potatoes and Potatoes
These past few days, the members of the third branch of the Xiao family have all taken Uncle Xiao to the fields to help with the work.
The eldest son's family never provided them with a single meal, but they were still willing to work. They would come and work for two or three hours a day, and spend the rest of the time either urinating or defecating, or hiding in the woods to rest.
They put on a very difficult act, gritting their teeth and getting through the first two days.
On the third day, Zhang could no longer keep up the act and began to complain under her breath while working.
"I'm working for them, and they won't even give us a sip of water. I'm quitting, I'm going home!"
She threw down her hoe and left, followed by her son and daughter-in-law. They had long wanted to quit, but Xiao Yuanhe had prevented them from leaving. Seeing their mother leave, they followed suit.
Uncle Xiao San grabbed Uncle Xiao Er, he also wanted to leave. If it weren't for the money in the eldest son's house, he would have left long ago.
Watching Zhang and the others leave, Xiao Mingshu thought, "They really left. They couldn't keep up the act anymore, could they?"
Yang shook her head. They used to be family, how did things turn out like this?
It's all about interests and calculations.
Today we start planting sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes.
Xiao Xuance and Xiao Xuanwu went home to get the seeds.
Yun Zhaoxue also came over. She had taught them the method at home, and she wanted to come and see for herself so that she could point out any mistakes.
The group met with Zhang, who had returned home.
Xiao Xuanwu feigned ignorance and asked, "Third Aunt, why are you leaving so soon? We're about to plant the seeds and we're short-handed. What will we do if you leave and we can't manage?"
"What do I care if you're too busy? I'm quitting! I hope you all work yourselves to death!"
"Let's go!"
Zhang glared at them, snorted coldly, and walked away.
Xiao Xuanwu stuck out his tongue. It's only been three days and he can't keep up the act anymore. Tch!
"Ignore them. Whatever they're plotting, they won't succeed. Let's go and plant the crops."
"Alright!"
Xiao Xuanwu asked, "Third Sister-in-law, can one mu of sweet potatoes really produce a thousand jin of grain?"
Yun Zhaoxue replied, "If the soil is fertile, it might yield even more, certainly more than rice."
The soil she irrigated with the spiritual spring in the space could produce about a thousand catties per half acre.
“But an acre of land can only produce about a hundred catties of rice.” Xiao Xuanwu still didn’t quite believe it.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Yun Zhaoxue, but he felt that she had never farmed before, and that his guess was based on a rough assumption, which might be wrong.
Xiao Xuance believed Yun Zhaoxue, saying, "When has your third sister-in-law ever lied to you? If she says it's possible, then it is."
Meng Dahu and others got up early in the morning, sowed seeds in the plowed field, and gently dragged iron rakes back and forth in the field to avoid exposure to the sun and promote germination.
They came to help after finishing their own work. They had eaten sweet potato porridge at the Xiao family's house that day and found it incredible that such a delicious food could be grown from this little vine.
Dig a small hole with a small shovel, insert a vine, and then fill it with soil. That's how you plant a vine. Leave a little space between the vines before planting another one.
One person plants one row, with Yun Zhaoxue supervising the work.
"Everyone worked hard at noon. Please come home for lunch."
Xiao Liu licked his chapped lips and asked, "Excuse me, do you have sweet potato porridge?"
Uncle Xiao, who had been enjoying the shade under the tree, now had food to eat, so he quickly came over to help.
Yun Zhaoxue nodded, "Yes, plenty."
"Really? That's great."
Meng Dahu also missed the sweet potato porridge from that day, though he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he kept urging his brothers, "Everyone, hurry up!"
Yun Zhaoxue's belly was getting bigger and bigger, as if she was about to give birth. Madam Yang was worried about her and kept urging her to go back.
"Don't worry, Mother. The air in the fields is fresh, and breathing is easy. It can help you relax and is good for your health."
"Then sit under the tree, don't stand, the sun is very strong right now."
Because there were many people, the sweet potatoes were planted in an hour and a half.
They then went to plant potatoes in another field, which they had never seen before. They guessed that these were crops brought from their country by foreign merchants.
Halfway through planting, the sun was already high overhead.
Xie Wanyun and Xiao Mingshu went back an hour early to cook.
Seeing that they had mastered the method and were planting very well, Yun Zhaoxue followed them back.
At noon, everyone went back to eat together.
This time I also cooked a big pot of sweet potato porridge, steamed buns, and stir-fried a large bowl of sweet potato leaves.
Uncle Xiao also did some work, but he dawdled and worked for a long time without moving on. However, no one chased him away and invited him to go back and eat together.
Uncle Xiao leaned closer and smiled slightly. The fish had taken the bait. Luckily, he stuck to his own ideas and didn't listen to that old woman Zhang. If he had given up this morning, all his previous efforts would have been in vain. Heaven rewards those who persevere.
Looking at the bowls full of porridge, Meng Dahu and the others didn't pretend to be polite like last time and started eating right away.
Practice makes perfect, and they didn't pretend to be reserved. They slurped down a mouthful of hot porridge along the rim of the bowl, afraid of burning themselves.
Some people weren't afraid of the heat and slurped up one bite after another.
The porridge seems to have sugar added, it's a little sweet, so delicious, so very delicious.
Xiao Yuanhe also thought it was delicious. Xiao Yuanchuan, who had been silent all along, finished one bowl and then got another.
Xiao Xuanwu also squatted down beside them to eat, "Third Uncle, is the porridge delicious?"
"It's delicious. I haven't had such delicious porridge in a long time." Xiao Yuanhe nodded, burying his face in the bowl.
The women and children of the eldest branch of the Xiao family sat at the table to eat.
Madam Yang repeatedly reminded Yun Zhaoxue, "Xue'er, it's even sunnier in the afternoon than in the morning, so don't go to the fields."
Yun Zhaoxue nodded, "I understand, Mother. I'm a little sleepy. I'll go back to my room and lie down for a while after I finish eating."
Uncle Xiao, who was squatting in the corner, pricked up his ears to listen.
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